'I've lobbied Rishi Sunak and when the chips are down, the sport pulls together' - racing's boots on the ground anticipate crucial day

Catterick may be 250 miles away from Westminster but the potential damage of Treasury proposals to harmonise online gambling duties was at the forefront of participants' minds at the track on Tuesday.

Racing to School, a charity that stages educational events at racecourses, celebrated its 250,000th participant at Catterick but there will be nobody at Britain's racecourses on Wednesday, when many of the sport's leaders will be in Westminster as part of the 'Axe the Racing Tax' campaign.

"It's a good way of drawing attention," trainer John Berry said. "Racing's finances are tough enough already and we don't want them to be made any tougher. We're not looking for a massive exemption, but it's a good way of highlighting how racing is such a big part of national life.

"It's a big employer and training centres and stables are a big part of the social and cultural life, as well as financially. It would be very sad if something happened that caused it to wither."

The blank day's meetings were at courses owned by the Jockey Club and Arena Racing Company. While Catterick is an independent track, its chief executive James Sanderson is on board with the action and has even raised the issue with a former prime minister.

Sanderson, who also runs Thirsk, said: "I've lobbied Rishi Sunak and Kevin Hollinrake as they both have training centres in their constituencies and it's a big deal to them. They've both represented our concerns quite well.

"When the chips are down, the sport pulls together and has grown-up conversations to say we need to do something about it. Will it achieve anything? It's worth a go and has definitely got people talking about it."

Catterick's chief executive James Sanderson (right) with Rishi SunakCredit: Hannah Ali

Independent modelling commissioned by the BHA forecasts a £330 million loss in revenue to racing in the next five years if the Treasury goes through with proposals to raise the rate of tax on horseracing betting from the current 15 per cent to join online gaming and slots at 21 per cent.

Sanderson added: "We're really lucky to have Middleham and Malton on our doorsteps, but it seems as soon as you've got a grip on one thing, the next thing hits you straight away. The big worry is racing's cake could shrink significantly. In the scheme of what the government does, the money might be a drop in the ocean but in terms of racing it's a big chunk of money.

"If bookmakers stop promoting racing as hard, with betting turnover already in decline, then a place like Catterick where 56 per cent of our income comes from media rights, we then can't develop and maintain our infrastructure and invest in our racing. Less money would go back to jockeys, owners and trainers and people would walk away."

The looming blank day did not dampen Racing to School's celebrations and its chief executive John Blake hopes that what the sport offers to Britain can shine through.

He said: "As a charity we want a thriving and healthy industry to help grow our programmes. The Levy Board is a big supporter of our programmes and have invested in us since day one, so any impact on their funds would be significant for us. 

"We aren't a political or campaigning charity and people are totally entitled to what they believe in, but the wider value is to show what racing brings to the community, to places like Catterick and the great stuff the sport offers."

Read more here

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'Why are you risking all of this?' - racing's enormous economic and social contribution to the UK   

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